SpicyMeatball

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @PrinceAlexus}

Dawnhaven was certainly a bustling little town for one that just survived a week-long blizzard. It was truly a sight to behold, with what appeared to be the entire town surrounding the inn. This must be that feast the guards mentioned. Her personal escort pulled the wagon to the side of the main road through town and the light ring of chainmail pierced through the gentle wind as he jumped down from his seat. “Welcome to Dawnhaven, Priestess.” He sent her a warm smile, though Katherine knew better than to think that smile was anything more than a remnant from their few cozy nights together. She nodded in reply, a small smile crossing her own lips. It’s truly a shame you’ll be returning to the capital in a day’s time. Her gaze looked up to the stars and moon, the first clear sky since they’d departed, and Katherine was reminded of just how incredible her goddess truly looked.

* * *

After taking a moment to retrieve her pack from the carriage, Katherine returned her sights to the crowd before her. A flicker of anxiety caught in her breath for a heartbeat but passed as soon as it came. This would be the first time in many years that she would be walking side-by-side with Aurelians, and the first time ever that she would get to see a Blight-born up close. Remember, this is a peaceful village. The inquisition sent you here in-case something goes wrong, but that doesn’t mean something will. Breathe Kat.... breathe. The priestess shed her heavy coat and hung it on the carriage she arrived on before letting down the hood of the light cloak that lay beneath it. Her curly, shoulder-length blonde hair was currently tied in a tight bun—a precaution for the road in-case her casting talents were needed to dispatch some ne’er-do-wells—but thus far her talents had not been required.

Finally after a veritable eternity of procrastination, the priestess made her way into the crowd of now mostly-fed citizens and her mouth watered at the thought of real food. Anything would be better than dry rations at this point. She retrieved a bowl of what appeared to be a stew before sinking to the back of the crowd and leaning against the wall. The stew warmed what few chills remained in her body and relief washed over her. No longer would her father control her life, not directly at least. And with her invisible leash barely a whisper in her mind, Katherine felt like herself again. It had been far too long since she’d felt this way.

Now, her eyes gazed across the inn, an invisible thread of her psychic magic floating through the crowd like a feather on the air. Whispers once again filled her mind, but this time it was the conversations of the patrons. Kat closed her eyes as her mind floated from one conversation to another and a real smile, though small, spread across her lips. It feels incredible to feel... ... ... normal again.

Capturing her attention however, was the snake-like whispers that now entered her mind. Her eyes opened to search for it’s source and were greeted by a figure that certainly matched the voice. Oh I just have to see you up close, she mused to herself, a blight-born in the flesh.

Her steps were almost silent on the wooden floors of The Eye as she approached Syraeia. It was a practice from her years of training that had now become second nature, and one that had now become her normal way of walking. Katherine’s eyes examined the being as she approached, filled with intrigue and curiosity. Her breath caught for a moment as she caught a glance of Syraeia’s singular eye, but her steps did not falter. You are incredible. She stopped a short distance before the snake—the blight-born? A second more of observation. The woman.

Katherine could barely contain the subtle excitement in her own eyes as she extended a hand to Sy-a, once the woman had finished her prior conversations. “From my observation I’m gathering that you must be the owner of this fine establishment? I’m grateful for the warm food, you have my gratitude. My name is Katherine, priestess of Seluna.”
My gratitude? What are you, fourty? Katherine smacked herself internally for the overly proper speech. This wasn’t the halls of the castle, she could breathe and be herself.

“If I may, and I mean no disrespect—quite the opposite actually—but you are magnificent.”

* * *

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{One week after the Queen's death}

The unrest in Lunaris in the month following the Queen’s death was palpable.

It was to be expected of course. A major political figure’s death would surely spark change in the kingdom’s leadership, and with it, changes that would ultimately effect everyone in the city.

Katherine wasn’t watching the unrest from the streets however. She had a front-row seat to the event as a ranking member of the Selune clergy, much to her dismay. It wasn’t that politics bored her; quite the opposite was true. She loved being in a position where she could make an actual difference in the lives of all Lunarians. No, it was the fact that now she knew. She knew that the Inquisition pulled strings from the shadows, unknown to the King or late Queen.

The Queen is dead... ... ... Long live the Queen.

Even now from her position in the court, Katherine’s eyes nervously glanced between two council members sitting opposite from her among the other nobility. Eyes towards the King, Sorrowind. Don’t get any ideas. The icy voice pierced her mind as one of their faces cracked a smile for a singular heartbeat.
I will never get used to that. Katherine’s heart raced, fear lacing her thoughts. The blood-magic leash that they’d put on her weeks ago was ever-present. She was powerless against them as long as it remained in place. Blood magic was forbidden for a reason, and Katherine was learning exactly why that was, first hand. Her only current hope was that leaving for Dawnhaven would put enough distance between herself and the Inquisition to render the spell powerless.

I wouldn’t count on it. The voice whispered in her head, slivers of pain causing the young woman to clutch her head and drawing the momentary attention of the nobility seated next to her.

I’m so fucked.

* * *

_{One week before current date.}

The road to Dawnhaven was going to be a long one. According to the castle scribes, a blizzard was setting in in a day’s time and would become a problem about halfway to Durnatel. Katherine had braved her share of cold nights during her survival training, but the thought still didn’t give her any comfort as she rode atop the carriage next to a single Lunarian guard tasked as her escort. Like he’s going to be any help in a real fight. Katherine mused in her head, though he may come in handy during the long winter nights. Her cheeks flushed a bit at the thought, glancing to the clueless guard for a single moment before returning her gaze forward.

The first night’s camp was setup quickly between the two travelers; it consisted of a medium-sized fur teepee with more furs lining what would become the floor, along with a few oil lanterns to provide light and warmth, and finally a pair of bedrolls. Though if I have my way, we won’t be needing two.
With the horse tied up and blanketed, Katherine and her unlikely roommate closed into the teepee for the night just as the storm began to brew. Dinner this evening consisted of cheesecloth-wrapped military rations and Aurelian tea; even the Queen would admit it was one of the few things that the southern nation did better. In contrast, the biscuits left much to be desired. Only by dipping them in the tea did they become edible, and even then there was more flavor to be found by eating a raw potato.

As the priestess awoke, her cheeks flushed as she felt the furnace of a man still peacefully asleep behind her, his arms across her torso in a gentle embrace. The night before would remain nothing more than a blissful memory with a nameless stranger in a few hours. But for now, you’re all mine. A grin spread across Katherine’s lips, before turning herself to face her temporary lover and cuddling up tight against his chest.

* * *

_{Present date.
Location: Northen entrance of Dawnhaven.}

The wagon wheels struggle to move in the deep snow and the horse is clearly not having a good time as they crest the final hill and Dawnhaven comes into sight. Katherine rolls her neck back and forth, the feeling of the invisible blood-magic leash much weaker now but still ever-present. Don’t you worry Sorrowind, I’m still in your head. Fucker.

Her mind wanders to her companion sitting to her right and warmth fills her body once more. Seven days of consequence-free, commitment free fun with a man she will likely never see again. What a tragedy.

Katherine hops down from the wagon into the knee-high snow as the single-wagon caravan approaches the gates, and she swears she hears a sigh of relief from the horse next to her. Looking back to the gates, the guards have clearly seen her and while they don’t look alarmed, they’re clearly alert and watching her every move. “Traveller, identify yourself. State your name and purpose.” Her eyes glance to the voice with a nod, closing the distance a bit more before producing a document from her coat. In her hand, a letter with the Lunarian court seal adorning it’s front. “I am Priestess Sorrowind of Lunaris, sent by the Qu—” Katherine’s voice falters for but a moment “Sent by his majesty the King.” The letter reads the same, and the guard returns the parchment to it’s owner. “Head on in Priestess, warm yourself at the inn. The Prince has organized a feast in celebration of the blizzard ending. You’ll find the temple of Seluna inside as well.”

“You have my thanks.” Her voice is warm and gentle despite the frigid air, and the caravan officially takes its first steps into Dawnhaven. And in crossing those next few steps, her leash is only the slightest sensation in her mind and the voice falls quiet. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Katherine Sorrowind

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"Only when you've been betrayed by your own father, wasted away without food for days and had your very skin set ablaze... Only then will you know the pain I suffered to save my mother's life."

Priestess of Seluna Kingdom of Lunaris Twenty-Eight Years Old ________________________________

This is my story... Growing up in the shadow of Master Sorrowind of the King’s Eye certainly left Katherine feeling like she was always coming in second place to her father’s work. The time that he did spend with her, was spent building her into a weapon of espionage and interrogation. From the age of three, Kat was constantly tutored by some of the brightest scholars that Lunaris had to offer. It was not her father, however, that began to corrupt her. Not directly. Katherine’s innate abilities in psychic and dark magic had not gone unnoticed by other members of the King’s Eye and in particular, the well-hidden Lunarian Inquisition. An organisation long thought to have been dismantled shortly after the last war, the Inquisition forced Katherine through the trials of learning the forbidden art of necromancy. Constant study and painful trials of Katherine’s developing abilities filled her teenage years, and much to Katherine’s surprise, all of it had been endorsed--and ordered-- by her father. She learned to despise the man. Throughout the years, Katherine was almost never present at home due to her teachings, and it had become obvious to her that the few days she was able to spend at “home” were always absent of her mother. It was not until the final trial of her abilities that she found out why. Katherine was presented with the lifeless body of her mother in an interrogation chamber beneath the castle. It was an ultimatum disguised as a trial: resurrect her mother or be charged with her murder. Never had Katherine known so much hate. Second to the physical stamina needed to sustain a resurrection, hate was the only reason she succeeded the trial. Hours of focus, days of pleading for Seluna’s favour, and every minute of it filled with pain. Necromancy was not a refined form of magic like many others. It was relentless in the power it demanded, and it was brutal and unforgiving in its consequences. By the end, her mother gasped breath anew, but Katherine’s father had finally broken her. For no other reason than to preserve their investment of time and knowledge, Katherine was brought before the clergy at Moonrise Sanctuary. She was barely alive, barely breathing. It was only by Seluna’s choice that Katherine’s heart kept beating. Over the course of the following years, Katherine stayed with the clergy and lived under Seluna’s protection at the sanctuary. The goddess had forsaken her father and exiled him from the grounds. Were he to step foot inside, he would surely feel her wrath. Katherine slowly began to heal both physically and mentally, learning the more peaceful ways of Lady Seluna. She would eventually grow to become one of Seluna’s chosen, the goddess having recognized the pure heart that had developed underneath almost two decades of hatred. Now she makes her way to Dawnhaven by decree of the Inquisition. Despite her best efforts, they still had her on a leash through what she could only guess was a form of blood magic. By their order, she would remain in Dawnhaven to protect Lunarian interests from any Aurelian unrest, or any threat of the Blight. * * *

Magic Abilities

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* Psychic * Dark * Necromancy *

Though very capable, Kat has only ever resurrected a person once--and it almost killed her. Her talents are used more for communication with the dead, be it ally or enemy. It is incredibly draining for her, and normally she can only sustain up to a minute of light interrogation before needing to stop, at risk of consuming her own life-force.

Katherine’s psychic and dark abilities feed from Seluna herself and mostly consist of concealment and the physical manipulation of objects. Katherine’s necromancy however, is fed solely from her own life-force. Seluna refused to provide her power for such abilities and therefore unless provided additional power through another caster, Katherine’s necromancy can and will kill her if pushed too far.

Seluna may not approve of her abilities, but they were not learned by choice. Similarly, her single resurrection was also done against her will, by threat of her own life. It is for both of these reasons that Seluna still allows Katherine as one of her chosen, and will remind her of such should Kat ever stray too far over the line.

^{Themes: Death May Die and Night Queen}

^{Color: 19CACA}

Aldrick Corveaux

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"Words hold power, mine more than most."

Bard / Mercenary / Wanderer Kingdom of Aurelia Thirty Years Old "This night may become darker and darker, but that only means the stars shine brighter and brighter." _________________________

Not a single person left alive knows the true story of the famous Aldrick Corveaux. Many a traveller had heard the stories directly from his lips, but they found that when confronted with others who had heard his tale, each and every story was different. A spy for the Aurelian court? Potentially. A mercenary in a travelling caravan? Conceivably. But a bard who’d captivated the hearts and souls of thousands throughout the years? That was for certain. In truth, Aldrick was a man of many titles and talents. He grew up as a commoner of Aurelia where he worked the fields with his family and received a passable education. He grew older and joined up with the city’s watch, wanting to serve the people he had grown to love. His life was every bit as mundane as the next guardsman’s. But it was during these years living in the barracks that he discovered his love of music. A night at the tavern had him intoxicated by the velvety sound of the performer’s violin. He had to learn to play like that. To absolutely entrance the people like he’d seen the bard across many nights of revelry. To control the crowds without a single lick of magic, without the slightest thought of malice. And after many nights of begging the man, Aldrick finally won. He gained his teacher. * * * Years later, the Corveaux name held much more meaning than simple farmers and field-hands. It held hope for the future, it held joy throughout long nights of music and drink, and most of all it held no judgment for any walk of life. Aldrick drank, played and eventually sang his way through the cities of both Aurelia and Lunaris alike, and all of the small villages that lay between them. Eventually, Aldrick would come to be a reliable source of information between the kingdoms as well. People of both nations learned that he would speak the unadulterated, unfiltered truth that did not hide behind the editors of the local news parchments. His performances and songs would carry his tales and fables across the lands, but approach him afterwards and he would speak of the happenings of the continent. Never written on parchment but the information spread like wildfire nonetheless. Not everyone was content with his truth-spreading however. Especially not after the blight began. It was unknown as to their origin, but someone wanted him dead. Someone was unhappy with Aldrick bypassing the scribes and censors. And what better way to dispose of a wandering bard than to have him disappear in the very blight that he had informed the people of? A bard who regularly passed close enough to the blight-infected lands that no one would question his disappearance. A bard that would be mourned, but would not be looked for. * * * He awoke in the darkness. His head pounded as if it would explode and his heart threatened to leap from his chest. Blood soaked his garments. Surely I am dead. His burning lungs and aching muscles disagreed. I feel so different. And as he walked through the darkness of the wilds, unassisted by any torch or lantern as he would normally have, Aldrick began to piece-together everything. Catching his reflection in a pond only confirmed his suspicions. He’d been taken by the blight, but had come out on the other side. The subtle changes in his appearance—horns like a devil with a tail to match, and a dusky red appearance to his skin—he could handle. But there was a sickening hunger present in his mind as well, and he hated it. * * * The once famous bard was now infamous in a way. Shunned by the people he used to call friends. Distrusted and disowned by the commonfolk. Disallowed entry to the taverns by their owners. Whoever had wanted him dead hadn’t fully succeeded in their endeavour but damn they’d certainly made sure that his life was lifeless. He was still accepted in the smaller villages, primarily those that didn’t see a bard for months otherwise. They were uneasy at first but grew to realize that the famed bard’s heart had not been changed by the otherwise vicious and unrelenting blight. But he needed to do more. He needed to be the difference in people’s daily lives like he once had been. Whispers of a new settlement that welcomed blight-born began to spread to the common-folk. Surely he could return to the life he’d once known, there. Or at least something similar.

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Magic Abilities

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* Fire * Healing * Light *

A practiced user of fire magic as many Aurelian-born are, Aldrick does not use the magic in the same manner as most. Of course the common uses are shared; Lighting candles and lanterns, warming himself during the cold winter nights. But Aldrick uses his fire magic as an extension of himself, most prominently during performances. He's refined his control of the flames so that he can sustain even the smallest, most controlled fire. With this precision in mind, he shapes the flames in thread-like vortices that he can use like his own hands to play another instrument, adding more depth to his music.

His healing magic is limited but practiced. Smaller wounds and breaks are mendable with time, taught to him by a mender of similar skill during his time with the Aurelian guard. Anything bigger than that would serve better from a more skilled healer or a doctor.

See blight-born section for light magic.

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Blight-Born

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Type: Emotional
Weaknesses: Psychic and dark magic especially, they drain his very soul. He feels physical pain through his instruments, now seemingly attached to him through the blight. If one were to be destroyed, he would feel extremely physically and mentally drained, taking days or weeks to recover.

Aldrick has taken on a devil-like form after succumbing to the blight. Two horns protrude from his head and a long, slender tail extends behind him. Parts of him, notably the neck, forearms, calves and tail, have developed a thin sheen of scales that are visible at the right angle. His eyes, once a soft and welcoming hazel, have now become piercing yellow orbs floating in a sea of black. Some swear they can see stars in the black depths of his sclera.

He did not develop the resistance to cold as many blight-born seem to, much to his disappointment.

He feeds through his performances now, seeing it as an exchange of goods and nothing more. He feeds off of the emotions of the crowd as he entrances them with music. Though it may leave them feeling a bit worse off in the morning, he tries to limit himself as to not harm anyone. He will refuse any monetary tips that are offered to him for his music.

Since being affected by the blight, his lesser knowledge of light magic has been honed. He can't wield it offensively but uses it to protect his instruments with a ward of magic. His instruments give off a gentle warm glow for the same reason.

^{Themes: Main Theme and Violin Tavern Music}

^{Color: 6A0891}

Palm Beach Royals: Reunited At Sea

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“One more song! One more song! One more song!”

The crowd’s chant gave her such a rush, and as Charlotte looked between her fellow band-mates a smile spread across her face. Her eyes flicked between Ben Miller, their vocalist; Stefan Beaumont, their drummer; Joaquin Hernandez, her partner in crime and secondary guitarist; and then finally Damian Smith, their bassist. In that moment it was as if they all shared a collective brain, further reinforced by the fact that their drummer began playing the rhythm of the exact song Charlotte had been thinking of starting. A song that truly fit the mood of the amazing day that it had already been, and that it was going to be when she arrived at the reunion. One More Time.

This feeling never got old. From the days she had toured with Bring Me the Horizon all the way through to today, seeing the crowd absolutely enthralled with their music was nothing short of intoxicating. The feeling was only ever dwarfed by the demand for just one more taste of the music before the show came to a close.

Charlotte looked out across the crowd of almost 20,000 people that stood before them, cheering them on. Then, as if an automatic response, her fingers began to strum the opening notes of One More Time when the drummer stopped the beat. For those brief moments, only the sound of those notes was heard in the Kaseya Center as the crowd went silent. And then as if on command, the crowd went wild as the remaining members of the band took up their roles once more following Charlotte’s lead. The characteristic fast-paced kick-drum beats, upbeat vocals and heavy guitar riffs once again filled the stadium through enormous speakers that flanked the band on all sides.

Sometimes you gotta go down swinging
Get up, get up feel the kick drum beating
One more time
One more time, tonight
Sometimes you gotta fight that feeling
Get up, get up feel your heart still beating
One more time
One more time, tonight

Charlotte’s fingers flew a cross the fret-board of her guitar with the precision of a military sniper and the speed of a first-time meth-user, now playing face to face with Joaquin as they entered the chorus. The two of them matched each other’s energy, staring each other in the eyes with shit-eating grins on their faces as they mouthed the words to the band’s favorite song to play.

As the song came to the bridge before the last chorus, Charlotte paced up to the very edge of the stage playing directly to all of the cheering fans in the front row, singing harmony into the tiny headset as she did.

I don't wanna feel down down down
When nobody's around round round
I don't wanna feel down down down
When nobody's around

For the final chorus she moved alongside their vocalist and once again sang in harmony as her heavy guitar notes rang out across the crowd. As the final lyrics came to end she jumped up onto the speakers in front of them, hanging precariously off of the edge of the stage as she played the final notes of the song. Her right hand picked the strings effortlessly as she closed her eyes. A brief silence fell over the stadium as the song ended, before the roar of the crowd’s cheering returned once more.

“THANK YOU, MIAMI!!!”

Ben Miller’s voice rang out over the crowd’s cheer as Charlotte removed the guitar-strap from her neck and rested the instrument on its stand. Her heart pounded in her chest as she paced to the front of the stage, sweat running down her forehead. She ran a hand through her hair before calling out across the crowd once more.

“THIS WAS THE PERFECT END TO OUR INTERNATIONAL TOUR, RIGHT AT HOME!”

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An hour later, the red-head flew down the interstate on her Yamaha R6 sport-bike. They had finished a bit later than she had expected and Charlotte was now a fair bit behind schedule. In the short time since the end of the show, she had managed the time for a very brief shower and redoing of her makeup, before grabbing the bag she had pre-packed and rushing out the door once again. Donning her favorite white jeans, a matching white crop top and a white and red leather jacket overtop, she almost matched her bike’s color scheme perfectly. All be design of course.

A light ringtone rang through her helmet, answered with the tap of her finger on the Bluetooth module on the side of her helmet.

“Hey Dad, what’s up?”

“Hey honey, just wanted to congratulate you on yet another incredible tour! I was able to catch the last 20 minutes or so after finishing up at the studio and once again you nailed it. The sound techs also did yet another fantastic job with your audio, you could really feel the kick drums.”

In the background, Charlotte’s mother could faintly be heard yelling out a congratulations.

“Thanks dad—and thank mom for me, I heard that!” Charlotte stifled a laugh.

“Anyways, I know you’re occupied for the next little bit. Have fun and we’ll see you around the studio to start working on that next album. Love you kiddo.”

“Love you too guys.” Charlotte smiled under her helmet before hanging up the call.

Charlotte mulled in the comfort of her parents’ words for a moment, smile still ever present on her face.

“Hey Siri, play Running Miles by Hippie Sabotage.”

Charlotte backed off the throttle as the calm song began playing through her helmet speakers, enjoying the evening sun as she cruised down the interstate towards Miami harbor. The warm breeze blew across her sending a subtle chill up her spine. The polarity of her evening began to dawn on her now, going from a high-octane performance in downtown Miami to a calm, gentle cruise where she felt completely at ease. Charlotte felt like a different person off-stage, but not in a bad way. It was almost like living two different lives. Being famous enough to have recognizable face on stage, but being also being able to change clothes and makeup before disappearing into the background. Sure, a few superfans had seen past her guise in the past, but it had been many years since the media had followed her around.

As she left the interstate, Safe with Me began playing and she couldn’t help playing a gentle air guitar with her right hand as she guided the motorcycle with her left. The harbor quickly approached, the backdrop a beautiful scarlet sky with some easy-going clouds to provide a bit of drama. The perfect night, truly.

She pulled her bike in next to an unfamiliar F-150 before dismounting and removing her helmet, taking a moment to straighten her hair in the truck’s side mirrors before removing her jacket. After all was packed into her bag—and her helmet ever-present under her arm, she walked out onto the dock to the only boat that could possibly be The Thousand Sunny. A deep breath and a minor heart flutter, Charlotte’s nervousness about this reunion suddenly reared its head. All she’d hoped was that at least Beckett would be present. Barring that, she had brought her Les Paul guitar and a mini-amp through some precarious packing on her bike. Then maybe she could provide some vibey tunes and give her ex-classmates a new impression of her.

Another woman had beat her to the ship, it seemed, as Charlotte paced up behind Priscilla. Something was familiar about her face, but more as a deja-vu type feeling. A stranger met in passing many years prior, kind of feeling. She paced up next to Pris, placing her bag, guitar, and helmet down on the dock before staring out to the water.

“I feel like I’ve met you before, but my brain’s giving me some mixed signals about that thought. Are you here for the King’s reunion?”

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Palm Beach Royals: Reunited At Sea

Charlotte Hayes

_{Give me something to believe in,
Or throw me in the deep end.
It all feels the same with your eyes closed.}

^{Char, Charmander ⚓ 27 ⚓ Lead Guitarist of The Last Light ⚓ Sydney Sierota ⚓ 00CED1}

⚓ A B O U T M E

• At a glance: Charlotte Hayes is a situational extrovert, most well known as the lead guitarist for the hard-rock/metal band The Last Light. An absolute powerhouse of a musician and fearless on stage, but much more tame and down-to-earth when not performing. Charlotte is also the founder and owner of Allegro Espresso, an upscale coffee house in the Florida Keys where musicians of all kinds are welcome to perform.

• Family: The epitomy of zero-to-hero, Charlotte was taken in from the foster care system at a young age by the Hayes family, a wealthy family in Palm Beach largely known for the Hayes Record Company. Her biological parents remain unknown to her to this day. Her adopted father, Jonathan Hayes, is the founder and CEO of Hayes Record Company. Her adopted mother, Samantha Hayes, was largely a stay-at-home mom to Charlotte until she graduated from King's, and now assists in managing the Allegro Espresso Coffee House.

• Life Before and At King's Academy: After her adoption, Charlotte quickly took to music as a way to bond with her new parents. She quickly took the spotlight in Florida celeb news as the Hayes' child prodigy for her incredible talent on the guitar, leading to many brand deals and TV appearances on talk-shows. By time her application to King's was accepted, Charlotte had already been on tour as a guest appearance with the likes of Five Finger Death Punch, Three Days Grace and Bring Me The Horizon.
  
  At King's, her life slowed down a bit as she focused on academics. Music never left her life mind you, as Charlotte could usually be found in the music room in her off hours. Briefly bullied for her uncovered "dirty and poor" childhood (proceeded by more interviews and TV spots), she found her place with the skater kids of King's and quickly learned to lay low. She graduated with a middle-of-the-pack GPA before turning her focus completely back to music.

• Leading Up To The Reunion: Having started her band The Last Light in the music room at King's, she eventually found the remaining members of her band while travelling the US and Canada, hopping to every show she could find to recruit. An easy feat given the family name and record label attached to it, The Last Light quickly rose to the top of the hard-rock charts and enjoyed all of the benefits that came with. They performed in venues that ranged from the smallest bars in backwater towns, to sold out crowds of 20,000+ at Madison Square Garden.
  
  With some of the spoils of stardom, Charlotte recently founded the Allegro Espresso mentioned prior. Though their mission is to support any and all musicians in their journey to fame, they also pride themselves on fair-trade and humanitarian aid, with a large portion of proceeds going towards aiding the homeless. Charlotte will even occasionally moonlight there as a barista.

• Other Details:
  
  • She has a green-cheek conure named Maximillian that has been with her on almost every tour.
  • Though she owns many guitars, her two favourites are her Gibson SG (pictured above) and a blue Les Paul Custom.
  • She owns a house in Palm Beach where, with the help of her adopted father, has built a custom recording studio for the band.

_{The fictional band The Last Light's style is based off of I Prevail}

The Pasta Bowl, where you can find all of the Spiciest Characters~

Removed.

|18+ FxA| Taboo Stories from popular Fandoms ie. Harry Potter, Pokemon, Digimon, RDR2

PM'd, definitely interested.

Need Human for RP (Advanced - 18+ - Adventure)

Definitely interested, PM'd.

Palm Beach Royals: Class Reunion (Shelved)

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Slow deep inhale… … … and a gentle controlled exhale as Bruna let the inconspicuous vape pen fall from her lips. A mellow and subtle buzz spread throughout her head as the marijuana went to work to keep her mind relaxed on an otherwise emotionally exciting night. There were a hell of a lot of people she was seeing for the first time since high school, and there were a fair few of those faces that belonged to people she was far less than friends with. It was the price Bruna paid while riding with the posse that was The Fearsome Foursome, and a price that she probably made skyrocket with her constant bullying of a few notable King’s Academy members.

“What’s done is done.” she sighed, letting out a long-winded exhale of fruity vapour once more before tossing the pen into her purse.

There were of course plenty of people Bruna was quite excited to see again as well. People that she had been genuine friends with, and others that were closer to a business relationship but that still served as good company. For the latter, Benji and Vann were the first to come into mind with a honourable mention to Max.

And the former?

The former were mostly made up of the Fearsome Foursome themselves. Kristen, Jasper and Margeaux. The lovely ladies that Bruna had spent all of her free time with, and that she had frequently gotten into way too much trouble with. Not to mention the pre-gaming before just about every school dance, much to the displeasure of the faculty when they discovered none other than drunk Bruna herself had punched a freshman for hitting on Marg.

Countless other entertaining stories of the group’s infamy filled her brain before a knocking at the door broke her mild trance and focused her attention once more. And there was only one person apart from Kristen who knew her room number at this point, and that was the Lost Cross himself. Almost undoubtedly here for the pre-arranged goodie bags that Bruna had brought all the way from Miami at his request. It was honestly the least she could do for the man that was partially responsible for how quickly the Di Francesco product gained traction in the nightclub game. She opened the door with a smile and motioned with her head for him to come in, the faint fruity smell of strawberry vape hanging in the air. From under the bed, she pulled out a small, airtight Pelican hard case--a measure she implemented to further mask the scent of drugs from canine-searches-- and unclasped the latches. From inside, she pulled out a large ziploc bag containing Benji’s preferred assortment of party drugs, each divided into their respective baggies and bottles.

With a lazy smile, she handed over the contents of the box and guided the dealer back outside of her room, before sending him off with one last comment and a wink following it.

“Don’t let this get me in trouble. I’ll deny everything if you get caught. Have fun~”

A few moments after he had left, Bruna also began to make her way towards the party. Tonight she donned a little black dress that left her back open for all to see, paired with a black net veil for the added mystery and sparkly black open-toe heels to show off her most recent pedicure. Much like Jasper, Bruna loved to dress in black. She loved the way it looked on her and it was an extremely versatile colour that worked for just about every event. It also gave her an excuse to go a little heavier on the eye-shadow to complete the “if looks could kill” motif she was going for.

As she arrived at the party, her first stop was the bar where she saw that Max was already conversing with someone she didn’t immediately recognize. With a shrug, she took a spot not too far down the bar from him, but far enough to not interrupt any conversation they may have been having. With her signature lazy smile, she waved the bartender over.

“An old-fashioned on the rocks please love, if you would be so kind.”

Her eyes scanned across the party like a hawk, waiting for her ladies to show their faces.

Palm Beach Royals: Class Reunion (Shelved)

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It was too different than she would have liked it to feel. Had it been that long since she let herself feel this kind of connection to the ocean? Did she need this trip to remember that the sea could be warm and welcoming instead of cold and harsh? Did she need the person sitting in the driver’s seat next to her to make her feel that way?

These were some of the thoughts that had rattled around in Kristen Shearer’s mind as Highway 1 continued to unfold in front of the sleek black Mercedes that raced like a shadow underneath the Caribbean sun. Nothing but the shimmering bright blue waters of the Florida Basin surrounded the thin stretch of pavement that allowed the machine to walk on water towards the promised land of Key West. Passing through Marathon was a true herald of the stretch the Seven Mile Bridge was on this trek, yet there was no fatigue for the moment. Only contemplation.

The long voyage to get here was nearing an end. It was amazing that Kristen could have held any doubts about making it, although the typical British Airways delay that had left her stranded at Heathrow for a lengthy period of time before her flight cast a pall over the 10 hours in the air. Still, if she could have driven across the Atlantic the way she was gliding across the waves now, she might have taken the opportunity, especially if it meant she could finally reconnect with some of her lost roots. Sure, there were FaceTime chats with the clique, they were always there for birthdays and weddings and major events, but this was the first chance she had to return to her Sunshine State homeland, and Bruna Di Francesco had welcomed her back with open arms. The past couple days staying in Bruna’s Palm Beach flat, catching up over a bottle of fine wine, taking way too much guff for the English accent that had crept into her voice during her six years spent on the island, especially given Bruna’s occasional Italian-inflected tones, it felt like old times. Sure Kristen had her friends among the WAGs in the stands at West Ham, but as her “husband’s” exploits became more well-known, the chill she got from that crew mirrored that which she received from the North Sea during her escapes to the Essex coast to try and avoid the publicity. With Bruna, it was just like old times already. Sure her birth certificate and undergrad degree read New York, and her driver's licence had a crown, but the family and the friends made sure it was Florida that always held her heart.

The brunette in the passenger seat looked over at the driver, concentrating on maintaining her purchase on the road. Bruna always seemed at home behind the wheel. Of course, she always seemed at home whatever she was doing. The mat, the pitch, the sleepovers, it never mattered with her. Maybe it was that upbringing of hers that imbued it in her soul. Kristen had to find it again, and Bruna was definitely a key to bringing it back after Aaron so callously ripped it away.

The talk had quieted a little bit as the music wafting through Bruna’s stereo was allowed to soundtrack the drive over the ocean, but the silence was starting to play into Kristen’s mind, and she couldn’t rely on a drive-by shout at Fred the Tree to alleviate those notions. “It’s flippin’ amazing, innit?” she noted, exaggerating the English tones just to make sure she got a rise out of her travelling companion. “All this was a couple hours away the whole time, and I never once thought to come down here until this reunion thing was happening?”

Bruna’s mind wandered as she guided her Mercedes around the sweeping curves that preceded them, letting her body flow with the car as it effortlessly took each turn. The twin-turbo'd V8 engine under the hood purred in a surprisingly tame manner as they drove, though the german-engineered vehicle did have a way of hiding the feeling of speed. Truth be told they were going far faster than they should’ve been going on these roads, but Kristen didn’t seem to have noticed. Bruna’s head fluidly bobbed back and forth with the gentle bassy beat that played from Matt Maeson’s Put It On Me, mouthing the lyrics silently having almost completely forgotten that someone else was in the car with her.

When the song finally ended and something less involved began to play, Bruna snapped out of her little daze and glanced over to Kristen. With a warm smile, Bruna returned her eyes to the road. Even despite their lack of conversation, it was already clear that Kristen was enjoying herself.

Truth be told, Bruna had really missed seeing her friends from high school. She may have been the quietest of the bunch at the time, but when it was just the four of them Bruna always felt infinitely more comfortable. It was like there was a weight on her chest that was lifted when they were together and she felt like she could actually have a voice. And when she found out that Kristen was landing on what was essentially her doorstep? Bruna was ecstatic. She’d offered the Di Francesco mansion up immediately if Kris needed a place to stay and the pair was finally able to catch up on some much needed stories and accompanied laughing. Even if this high school reunion trip hadn’t been happening, these few nights spent with one of her best friends was more than enough to brighten up her spirits again after two years of being alone.

Ah yes, there it was. The little storm cloud that had been hanging over her head since the disappearance of her ex-husband. Still an ever-present thought in her head, but one that she was not going to let ruin her weekend. He’d done enough to ruin her life at this point, Bruna wasn’t going to have that lovely image of her ex-husband lip-locked with her sister in their own god damn house stay in her head. She was gonna have a good time this weekend damn it!

When Kristen finally broke the silence, Bruna was thankful that she could focus on something upbeat. “I’ve actually never driven down here and… … Yeah, it's beautiful here, truly. Part of me wishes I’d looked a little closer to home before booking my wedding, not that it matters now though anyways.” she replied, the little hint of awe audible in her voice, her eyes glancing around at their surroundings. It took a second but the exaggerated English accent hit her again and a grin spread across Bruna’s face before she playfully nudged Kristen’s upper arm with her elbow. “What happened to trying to ditch the accent? Still hooked on that cold, wet country that you call England?” Bruna teased, shaking her head with a laugh. “Welcome home my darlin’.” she stated playfully in a thick and quite terribly-imitated southern accent.

The short time in Florida was already drawing more laughs out of Kristen than she remembered from the past couple years in the United Kingdom, and the sound of Bruna, proud Italian she is, doing the full on southern accent was quick to add to that tally. “OK! OK, c’mon! You cann’t do that to me! Not when you’re as southern-fried as a Scotch egg!” She was trying hard to shake the accents and the euphemisms but it was difficult.

Especially with the reminder of weddings and what not. She still regretted how her wedding with Aaron went down. It was so sudden, and she wasn’t able to get Jasper and Margeaux over for it, due to time and possibility of Roman sightings respectively. Only Bruna was able to fly in on such short notice to act as her maid of honor, paying Kristen back after the trio were able to serve as bridesmaids at the di Francesco knot-tying a couple years earlier. Of course, neither marriage was going to have a happy ending from the looks of things. That was something Kristen was not looking forward to discussing with the other members of the clique… or anyone who checked out the British tabloids. She prayed no one at King’s would dare pay those rags any mind.

But she was able to let loose the sordid details with Bruna, the alcohol that flowed over a traditional Italian dinner able to get Kristen to open up about just how bad Aaron had gotten in recent months. The London club scene was a maddening influence on the boy from the West Midlands. It wasn’t as personal as the trigger to end Bruna’s marriage, but still, having a woman’s belly button ring caught on his tongue during a body shot was only number four or five on the list behind the public snipping of the wedding band.

This voyage back home was supposed to serve as a palette cleanser for Kristen, to allow her to forget the ongoing issues happening back home. England was growing less and less hospitable by the day and it was hard to ignore Bruna’s remarks about getting those hooks out of her system. Even if it meant giving up the home once she officially secured it from Aaron in the divorce. Hopefully Margeaux would be willing to come on board and be as ruthlessly efficient as she was dealing with Stefan’s pitiful lawyers. Once, of course, M made Kristen admit what a mistake it was to get married in the first place.

Still, if there was nothing in the UK keeping Kristen attached to the rock, it made sense to come to a familiar spot. Her family would be pleased, even if Brittany had moved on into the world herself. Plus, those special dinners would be way more frequent. Even if everything her diet told her was screaming no, that second serving of handmade ravioli screamed “More.”

“I’ll admit though, home is sounding and looking a lot more appealing nowadays. Especially if I have enough money to get a spot down here along the ocean. You don’t happen to know any businesses that need a CFO or anything like that, do you?” She shook her head for a second, large hoop earrings swaying as she did. “Actually, never mind, I don’t even want to think about that sort of trash this weekend. This is all about you and me and Jaz and maybe Marg, we’ll see how smug she wants to be, but we’re just here enjoying life, right?”

“Even if you don’t want to discuss details, I’ll just plant a little seed in your mind. You’re always welcome at my place while you look for a position and a house. You know my family loves you and lord knows we have the space. Just keep it in mind, kay?” She shot a smirk at Kristen before changing the topic. “Like you said, we’re here to enjoy life and we will enjoy it this weekend if it kills us!” She exclaimed playfully. “Oh! A little late but I completely forgot! I packed a small cooler-bag of drinks for the ride. It's behind my seat if you can reach it. Help yourself to anything you want. Grab me a bottle of water if you do, yeah?”

If the tiny blip in Kristen’s thoughts threatened to derail this weekend for even a moment, it was good to know that Bruna was there to shut that down instantly, in multiple ways. One of the biggest problems the former Miss Blake was having with the situation was not having a plan whatsoever for what would happen once the proceedings with Aaron were done. Bruna made sure she wouldn’t have to deal with that thought for a second. If nothing else, having one of her besties nearby after so long away was draw enough to convince her this was where she needed to be if she wanted to move forward. She reached in behind the seat and fished a pair of water bottles out of the cooler Bruna alluded to, plunking one in the cup holder before cracking her own open and taking a long sip.

After Kristen’s little indecisive moment, Bruna reached back over to the Mercedes’ audio controls and flipped through a few songs before arriving at one that brought a smile to her face. Party In The USA. A more fitting song didn’t exist in her mind. After tapping it, she turned up the volume a bit before listening to the trademarked guitar intro began and the sound of Miley Cirus’ voice filled the car.

And as the lyrics began, Bruna began to sing along to every word.

I hopped off the plane at LAX
With a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame excess (Whoa)
Am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab, here I am for the first time
Look to my right, and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous!

As she sang, Bruna nudged Kristen’s arm again to sing along with her, her own head swaying along with the upbeat, happy song. What a perfect way to start the weekend, singing in the car with her best friend, not a care in the world between them. Bright, sunny skies, rich blue water around them on all sides and the black tarmac between the tires.

… And a JAY-Z song was on
And a JAY-Z song was on

So I put my hands up
They're playin' my song, the butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like, yeah
Movin' my hips like, yeah
Got my hands up, they're playing my song
They know I'm gonna be okay

Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.
Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.

Kristen had gotten the message with Bruna’s bump and started shimmying her shoulders from side to side in tune with the beat, mimicking the best of Carpool Karaoke dancers as she did. She couldn’t help but start to add her own voice to the melody, blending it in as a Miley from a different era echoed her thoughts about her return to America. She was sure this wasn’t going to be a London party, or at least it was going to be one she could take part in. And that could only be a good thing. She wasn’t sure what Britney song would come on, but in contrast to the narrator, she knew her DJ was going to put the right song to make her feel alright to make her not regret hoppin’ on that flight to her hometown. Kristen’s hands went up and all the butterflies flew away. Because although they were on the southern edge, this was gonna be a party in the USA.

Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A!